The scenic Naval Academy campus, known as the Yard, is located in historic Annapolis, Maryland. As the undergraduate college of our country’s naval service, the Naval Academy prepares young men and women to become professional officers of competence, character, and compassion in the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps. Naval Academy students are midshipmen on active duty in the U.S. Navy. They attend the academy for four years, graduating with bachelor of science degrees and commissions as ensigns in the Navy or second lieutenants in the Marine Corps. Naval Academy graduates serve at least five years in the Navy or Marine Corps.

The Naval Academy is one of the nation’s most prestigious institutions, it provides undergraduates with the opportunity “to be among America’s next generation of leaders, and to represent the best this country has to offer.” Certainly, these midshipmen are drawn to the promise of serving their country and “receiving an Ivy League-equivalent education” all while “pushing themselves] further than [they] ever thought possible.” Indeed, students greatly value the fact that, “the curriculum is designed around training and developing leaders, and takes a whole-person aspect into view.” As one senior explains, “character is a must, and ethical-leadership is the standard.

Undergrads speak highly of their overall classroom experience as well as their “excellent” professors. Many students are pleased to discover that their teachers focus on “how course material can be applied in the real world.” They also feel that, by and large, professors here are “extremely knowledgeable in their field.” Perhaps even more importantly, these midshipmen brag that instructors “are willing to devote a lot of extra time to help students outside of class.” ​The Naval Academy is quite regimented and rules here are “strictly enforced.” When precious free time is available, many students enjoy engaging in outdoor activities such as “rock climbing, sailing, fishing, hiking, and camping.” Additionally, a lot of midshipmen can be found “running and biking when the weather is good.” The Academy itself has virtually no party scene since “it’s a completely dry campus.” And a sophomore warns that “if you are found with alcohol you are kicked out.” However, during the weekends, midshipmen who are of age love sampling the bars around Annapolis. And all undergrads appreciate the school’s proximity to both Baltimore and Washington, D.C. Finally, many midshipmen conclude by stressing that life at the Academy “gets better as you progress.”

United States Naval Academywebsite:http://www.usna.edu/homepage.php​​​​Click here to read more about the United States Naval Academy in The Princeton Review. (You may need to log in or create a free Princeton Review account to view.)

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